Who and what is between the covers at Books by the Beach
Aglittering lineup of top novelists are making a splash at Books by the Beach, which runs at various venues in Scarborough from Saturday June 12 to Sunday June 13.
Bestselling Rowan Coleman is visiting in the Saturday and her event is at St Mary’s Church at 1pm.
Rowan is the author of 14 novels including The Memory Book. Join her as she introduces her new Bronte mysteries written in the Bronte inspired pen name – Bella Ellis.
Rowan first visited the Bronte parsonage when she was 10 and she was hooked. She fell in love with Bronte literature, their life and remarkable legacy.
In her mystery series the Bronte sisters turn detectives.
The St Mary’s Church setting is appropriate as it is next to Anne Bronte’s final resting place.
“Join Rowan to be transported back in time to a fictional Victorian England – where mysterious murders takes place on the Yorkshire moors.
Atmospheric, intriguing and fun – a perfect event for all fans of historical sleuths,” said festival director Heather French.
Salley Vickers and Clare Chambers share the stage at the same church on Sunday June 13 at 1pm.
Salley has worked, variously, as a cleaner, a dancer, an artist’s model, a teacher of children with special needs, a university lecturer and a psychoanalyst.
She now writes full time and lectures on many subjects.
Grandmothers, Salley’s latest work is a gentle, beautifully observed novel about three women over 60 and the children they love. It’s a celebration of family love and affection.
Salley’s stage partner Clare will be discussing her new work Small Pleasures her first novel in 10 years.
It was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick and Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.
It opens in South East London in 1957 and Jean Swinney is a journalist working on a local paper. When a young woman contacts the paper to claim her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, Jean has to discover whether she is a miracle or a fraud.
Two visiting top journalists have also turned their hand to novel writing and both Jeremy Vine and Frank Gardner will be visiting on the Saturday.
Jeremy presents a weekday show on Radio 2 and Jeremy Vine on Channel 5. He will be at Queen Street Church at 7.30pm.
With two works of nonfiction already to his name, Jeremy introduces his debut novel The Diver and the Lover. It opens in Catalonia 1951 and two sisters travel from England to Franco’s Spain in search of distraction and hope.
It is based on true historical events surrounding a Salvador Dali masterpiece.
This will be Jeremy’s second visit to Books by the Beach.
Frank Gardner is the BBC’s security correspondent.
In June 2004, while reporting in Riyadh, Frank and his cameraman Simon Cumbers were ambushed by Islamist gunmen.
Simon was killed outright but against all expectations Frank survived. He later published his memoir Blood and Sand.
Frank now writes bestselling thrillers and will be talking about his latest novel Outbreak.
Frank will be sharing stage with Helen Boaden, former Head of BBC Radio, also at Queen Street Church. The event starts at 5pm.
“I’m so looking forward to meeting Frank and Jeremy,” said Heather.
“Faces from TV always prove popular and Julian Norton star of Channel 5 series The Yorkshire Vet is no
exception,” she said.
Julian spends his days as a mixed practice vet treating animals across the Dales.
Whether caring for dogs, cows or sheep, Julian has come to recognise the particular ways in which healthy animals express their contentment.
In his latest book All Creatures he tells heart-warming stories of the animals and equally interesting human characters he meets in and around his beloved Yorkshire.
He will be at Queen Street Church on the Sunday at 5pm.
“Books by the Beach is bringing topical issues to the fore by introducing a memoir from award-winning writer Horatio Clare to the festival,” said Heather.
The pandemic and lockdown has taken mental well being to top of the national agenda.
Horatio is mainly known for his travel and nature writing but his autobiographical work Heavy Light takes us on a different journey – a personal exploration of breakdown, recovery and healing.
“It is highly researched and a timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about mental well being,” said Heather.
“It is shot through with kindness and humour, it is a tribute to those who have cared for him,” she said.
Horatio is also a former radio producer and will be sharing the stage with Helen Boaden.
The event takes place at the YMCA Theatre on the Sunday 13 at 10am.
The festival ends on a high note as Scarborough-based TV Egyptologist Prof Joann Fletcher stars at the finale on Sunday June 13 at 7.30pm.
Joann has a large following and tickets for her event
are selling fast.
A wonderful speaker, she will be sharing Secrets from the Coffin and tales of a famous mummy at Queen Street Church at 7.30am. The full programme Saturday June 12
Claire Wilcox: Patchwork: A Life Amongst Clothes – Queen Street Church, 10am.
Rowan Coleman: The Bronte Mysteries – St Mary’s Church, 1pm Polly Toynbee and David Walker: The Lost Decade – St Mary’s Church, 3pm
Frank Gardner: Outbreak – Queen Street Church, 5pm Jeremy Vine – Queen Street Church, 7.30pm
Sunday June 13 Horatio Clare: Heavy Light – YMCA Theatre, St Thomas Street, 10am Salley Vickers and Clare Chambers – St Mary’s Church, 1pm
David Atherton: Good Enough to Eat – St Mary’s Church, 3pm Julian Norton: All Creatures – Queen Street Church, 5pm Joann Fletcher: Ancient Egypt –
Queen Street Church, 7.30pm
All authors will be appearing in-person at Books by the Beach and the full programme is available at www. booksbythebeach.co.uk
Call at your local library to pick up a brochure!
Tickets are on sale online at www.sjt.uk.com or www. booksbythebeach.co.uk
From Monday May 17 the Stephen Joseph Theatre box office will open its doors to people to buy tickets in person. Social distancing and Covid protocols are in place throughout the theatre.
So hurry to get tickets as spaces are still restricted following government guidelines.
Tickets for Horatio Clare are available from YMCA Box office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from noonto 5pm.
They are also available online at www.ymcascarborough.uk